England's Test captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ben-stokes" rel="dofollow">Ben Stokes</a> believes he is in his best ever physical condition and can dominate with bat and ball on his latest comeback from injury.&nbsp;The 33-year-old is set to return in a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham next week.
Stokes has not played since tearing his hamstring in New Zealand in December.&nbsp;But having rushed back from a similar injury in the past, he has taken a longer period of downtime to get his recovery right.
"I've worked incredibly hard on all aspects of everything, from my cricket to fitness, and know I'm going to be in a position when I am back on the field to potentially be in physically the best possible shape I have been in," Stokes told Sky Sports."I feel great. Training and playing are completely different. No matter what you do at training, you cannot replicate the intensity your body is put through in a game.
"But in terms of my role as a player -- fourth seamer, batting at six -- trying to dominate every situation I find myself in, whether I've got a bat or a ball in my hand, is what I want to get back doing out on the field on the biggest stage.
"I know I've done it before and it's something I'm very, very confident in myself I can do."
After the clash against Zimbabwe, England face India in a five-match Test series.
Former New Zealand seamer Tim Southee will join the England coaching ranks for those matches and a five-game ODI series against the West Indies as a "specialist skills coach".
Following a short-term consultancy stint, Southee will resume playing duties in The Hundred for the Birmingham Phoenix.
He effectively replaces James Anderson as fast bowling consultant, with England's record wicket-taker set to resume his playing career with Lancashire this week, almost a year on from his farewell Test at Lord's.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.
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Stokes will lead England in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe starting next week in Nottingham before leading them against India in the marquee series.  Sports, Cricket

England's Test captain Ben Stokes believes he is in his best ever physical condition and can dominate with bat and ball on his latest comeback from injury. The 33-year-old is set to return in a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham next week. Stokes has not played since tearing his hamstring in New Zealand in December. But having rushed back from a similar injury in the past, he has taken a longer period of downtime to get his recovery right. "I've worked incredibly hard on all aspects of everything, from my cricket to fitness, and know I'm going to be in a position when I am back on the field to potentially be in physically the best possible shape I have been in," Stokes told Sky Sports."I feel great. Training and playing are completely different. No matter what you do at training, you cannot replicate the intensity your body is put through in a game. "But in terms of my role as a player -- fourth seamer, batting at six -- trying to dominate every situation I find myself in, whether I've got a bat or a ball in my hand, is what I want to get back doing out on the field on the biggest stage. "I know I've done it before and it's something I'm very, very confident in myself I can do." After the clash against Zimbabwe, England face India in a five-match Test series. Former New Zealand seamer Tim Southee will join the England coaching ranks for those matches and a five-game ODI series against the West Indies as a "specialist skills coach". Following a short-term consultancy stint, Southee will resume playing duties in The Hundred for the Birmingham Phoenix. He effectively replaces James Anderson as fast bowling consultant, with England's record wicket-taker set to resume his playing career with Lancashire this week, almost a year on from his farewell Test at Lord's. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Test Captain Ben Stokes determined to 'dominate' on England return

In a historic move, the bilateral cricketing ties between England and Zimbabwe are set to resume after a gap of nearly two decades, as the ECB announced hosting Zimbabwe for a one-off four-day Test in May 2025 (28-31), the venue for which remains unknown for now.

Both England and Zimbabwe haven’t faced off in any bilateral affair since 2004, with relations between two boards getting stranded due to political tensions stemming from the country under the then Zimbabwean government.

Even during the 2003 World Cup in Africa, England refused to travel to Harare for their scheduled game against Zimbabwe (for which the points were deducted), as ECB suspended ties with their counterpart on the government’s advice a couple of years later.

England, who had earlier played two four-day Tests against Ireland in 2019 and 2023, will host Zimbabwe on their home soil, who played the inaugural four-day Test against South Africa in December 2017. Both teams have played six Tests, with the first coming in 1996 while remaining during Zimbabwe’s tour of the UK in 2000 and 2003.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blow-to-india-vinesh-phogat-ruled-out-of-asian-games-2023-due-to-knee-injury-set-to-undergo-surgery-625702">Blow to India! Vinesh Phogat ruled out of Asian Games 2023 due to knee injury, set to undergo surgery</a>

ECB Chief Richard Gould welcomed the decision, saying,&nbsp;"We are delighted to be able to host Zimbabwe for a Men's Test match for the first time in two decades. Zimbabwe has a proud cricket history and have produced world-class players and coaches who have enriched the game across the world.

"We are committed to developing a closer relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket, and the announcement of this Test against our England Men's team is a step in that ambition,” he said, as quoted in ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;

<h2>‘We are delighted'</h2>

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director Givemore Makoni also sounded elated to join hands with ECB and pen the first game between both countries in over two decades.

“We are absolutely delighted to be playing bilateral cricket in England for the first time in over two decades after we agreed to play a Test match in May 2025.

"The significance and magnitude of this tour cannot be over-emphasised, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the ECB for committing to the resumption of cricketing relations between our countries that date back to the introduction of the game in Zimbabwe in the 1890s.

"The experience of playing a Test match against a top team like England is massive for the current generation of our players, coming at a time when our game as a whole is on an upward trajectory,” he added.

Meanwhile, in 2003, it was a certain James Anderson, who made his debut against Zimbabwe at the Lord’s and returned with a maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.&nbsp;

Twenty years later, James is the third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 690 wickets to his name. It remains to be seen if he will be around till 2025 to play Zimbabwe after 22 years.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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In a historic move, the bilateral cricketing ties between England and Zimbabwe are set to resume after a gap of nearly two decades, as the ECB announced hosting Zimbabwe for a one-off four-day Test in May 2025 (28-31), the venue for which remains unknown for now.

In a historic move, the bilateral cricketing ties between England and Zimbabwe are set to resume after a gap of nearly two decades, as the ECB announced hosting Zimbabwe for a one-off four-day Test in May 2025 (28-31), the venue for which remains unknown for now. Both England and Zimbabwe haven’t faced off in any bilateral affair since 2004, with relations between two boards getting stranded due to political tensions stemming from the country under the then Zimbabwean government. Even during the 2003 World Cup in Africa, England refused to travel to Harare for their scheduled game against Zimbabwe (for which the points were deducted), as ECB suspended ties with their counterpart on the government’s advice a couple of years later. England, who had earlier played two four-day Tests against Ireland in 2019 and 2023, will host Zimbabwe on their home soil, who played the inaugural four-day Test against South Africa in December 2017. Both teams have played six Tests, with the first coming in 1996 while remaining during Zimbabwe’s tour of the UK in 2000 and 2003. ALSO READ: Blow to India! Vinesh Phogat ruled out of Asian Games 2023 due to knee injury, set to undergo surgery ECB Chief Richard Gould welcomed the decision, saying, "We are delighted to be able to host Zimbabwe for a Men's Test match for the first time in two decades. Zimbabwe has a proud cricket history and have produced world-class players and coaches who have enriched the game across the world. "We are committed to developing a closer relationship with Zimbabwe Cricket, and the announcement of this Test against our England Men's team is a step in that ambition,” he said, as quoted in ESPNcricinfo. ‘We are delighted' Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director Givemore Makoni also sounded elated to join hands with ECB and pen the first game between both countries in over two decades. “We are absolutely delighted to be playing bilateral cricket in England for the first time in over two decades after we agreed to play a Test match in May 2025. "The significance and magnitude of this tour cannot be over-emphasised, and I would like to say a huge thank you to the ECB for committing to the resumption of cricketing relations between our countries that date back to the introduction of the game in Zimbabwe in the 1890s. "The experience of playing a Test match against a top team like England is massive for the current generation of our players, coming at a time when our game as a whole is on an upward trajectory,” he added. Meanwhile, in 2003, it was a certain James Anderson, who made his debut against Zimbabwe at the Lord’s and returned with a maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. Twenty years later, James is the third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 690 wickets to his name. It remains to be seen if he will be around till 2025 to play Zimbabwe after 22 years. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

England to host Zimbabwe for one four-day Test in May 2025 as bilateral ties resume for first time in 20 years

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Test Captain Ben Stokes determined to 'dominate' on England return

England to host Zimbabwe for one four-day Test in May 2025 as bilateral ties resume for first time in 20 years